St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-07-08
A GENTLEMAN'S Answer.
President Cleveland Courteously De-
cIines the Invitation Given to Him
to Visit st. Louis,
Because Of the Opposition to His Ad-
vent Aroused Among Members
of the G. A. r.
The Correspondence in the Case Does
Credit to the Chief Executives
Head and Heart,
And Puts to Shame Those Who Medita-
ted Wanton Insult to the Ma
tons Leader.

WASHINGTON. July 1T Is practi-
eally settled that the president will not
visit the West at all during the present
wear. The abandonment OF his pro-
posed visit to St Louis has resulted i'll
wholly changing whatever plans he had
made for visiting Western cities. 1t is
stated at the White house this after
noon that the only plans the president
has made for leaving Washington dur
ing the summer and autumn are those
for his visit to Clinton, \. Y, on the
18th inst, which will probably not con-
sumo altogether more than week S
time, and for his visit TO Atlanta in Oc-
tober next. on the occasion OF the GeOr-
gia state fair.
The following are copies of the letters
relating to the presidents proposed
visit to st. Louis which have not yet
been made public. The first is the let
ter inviting him to be present at the
meeting in that city of the Grand
Army of the Republic ana the second is
his formal letter of declinatiOn, ad-
dressed to the municipality, the bust
men Of the city and the Grand Army of
the Republic:
TIE INVITATION.
"ST. LOUIS, Feb. 26, lSS7.-Grover
Cleveland, President of the United
States-Sir: The national encampment
of the G. a. R. Will be held in this city
during September next. from the 9th
to the 3Oth inclusive. 1t promises to be
the largest gathering Of veterans of the
late war ever seen. The organization
was never in so tiouriShing condition,
and the membership never so large. as
at the present time. 1t will be the first
encampment located in city near
the center of the country, and
the first ever held in a Southern
state. Our people are Sparring no effort
10 insure for the assembly welcome OF
unusual warmth and a reception the
most hOSpitable. The undersigned are
a committee appointed 10y the general
committee on arrangements for the pur-
pose of extending to yta4fFself and your
esteemed wife a cordial and urgent in
VitatiOn to be present on that occasion
and to accept the hospitalities of the
committee and the city. Every eXertiOn
will be made by our citizens, as well as
by 10000 veterans then to be
cOngregated here, to render your
visit pleasant and your stay
interesting 1t is rumored that you are
planning a tour through the West and
South. and we sincerely hope you can
make it convenient to be in St. Louis
Allow us to suggest that no compliment
more fitting could be bestowed on the
valiant defenders of common country
by the chief executive of a restored
union. and none would be more highly
appreciated than that conferred 10y his
presence at such time and place.
Awaiting your favorable response, we
have the honor to be. sir. yours respect
fully, DAVID 5. FRANCIS.
Mayor of the City of st. Louis.
FRANK GAIENNIE,
President of the Merchants Exchange.
JOIN W. NOBLE,
Commander Frank p. Blair Post No. l,
g. A. r.
THE ANSWER.
July 4, 1SS7.-To David r. Francis,
MayOr Of the City of st. Louis: Frank
Gaiennie, President of the Merchants
Exchange, and John w. Noble, Com
mander Frank 2. Blair Post No. l, G.
A. R.. Committee: Gentlemen: While
l have hitherto made no formal response
to your invitation given in February
last 10 myself and Mrs. Cleveland to
attend the national encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic, to be held
in St. Louis from the 9th to the 30th of
September next, | have verbally indi-
Gated my purpose TO accept 1t II
should find it possible then to be ab
sent from Washington. The statement
contained in your letter that the Organ-
iZation was never i'll so fl0urishing a
condition as now, and the membership
so large that no effort Is being spared
bv citizens of St. Louis to insure wei
come of unusual warmth at its, the first
encampment of that body ever held in
Southern state, and your suggestion
that no compliment more fitting could
be bestowed upon the valiant defenders
of a common country by the
chief executive of a restored Union, and
none would he more appreciated than
that conferred 10y his presence at such
time and place. enlisted in my feeling
and interest More recently indications
have been disclosed that however cor
rectly you expressed the prevailing sen
timent of the Grand Army. there are
members and some posts of the body
entertaining different feelings in re-
sDect to my attendance, and that my ac-
ceptance Of your invitation would lead
TO discOrd in the organization as
well as an interruption of cOrdiality at
the coming encampment. Without en-
tering into discussion of the opinions
and unmoyed by any feeling, although
/ deeply regret the condition, can but
regard it my duty to refrain from con-
tributing 10y any action to so undesirable
q result. Nothing can be of greater i'm
Dortance in connection with the ell
campment than the free and un-
restrained manifestation by its par
ticipants of that patriotic fraternity
of feeling suggested by the selection OF
the place of holding 1t, and Which is at
once the proof of the complete success
of their arms and the highest glory OF
our veteran soldiers. ! am constrained,
therefore, to withhold my purpOSed ac-
ctptance of your invitation. In doing
so / assure you of my unfeigned hope
and sincere wish that in the agreeable
entertainment prepared for them by the
hospitable people Of st. Louis. the vet
Grams of the Grand army may enjoy the
most pleasant, profitable and useful re-
union in their history. Very truly
yours, GROVER CLEVELAND.
THESE ARE NOT COFFEE COOLERS.
Gen. Landes Post No. ), of the q. A.
r. of Lynn. Mass. which arrived here
last night from Virginia, called on the
president this evening, and were re-
ceived in the east room. When the
president came down stairs TO receive
= them. Post Commander Walker stepped
- forward and said: Comrades of Gen.
Iaudes Post No. ), q. A. r., l propose
three cheers for Grover Cleveland, ,presi-
dent of the United States" The yeter-
ans gave three cheers and tiger with a
ylgoT and earnestneSs that made the
air ring. As its echo rolled
way the president with smile ad'
dressed the visitors as follows: can
only say TO you, gentlemen. that L an
glad to meet you here. l have eXtended
Il n "a ~